Apparatus for cementing wells



April 9, 1940. F. J. SPANG APPARATUS FOR CEMENTING WELLS Filed March a, 1958 R O T N E v m Patented Apr. 9, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I 9 Claims. This invention relates to the drilling with a cable tool drill string of wells for the production of oil and natural gas, and more particularly to apparatus for coating the wall of a well with a cementing material.

During the drilling of oil and gas wells by the percussion method and with a cable tool drill string, various strata of formation are encountered, among which are a series of shales and the like of varying degrees of stability (as well as sandstone, limestone and other formations). These shales and the like become quite unstable when exposed to the action of water and since water is always present during the drilling operation, such shales tend to crumble and disintegrate and cave into and fill up the well bore.

The primary object of this invention is to provide apparatus for coating and sealing such unstable strata within the well bore to prevent the strata from being penetrated and wetted by the action of moisture seepage within the uncased well bore and to prevent dehydration of the formation resulting from atmospheric changes taking place in the well bore as a result of the movement of gases therein set up by the lowering and raising of the drilling implements within the well bore and also by the passage of natural gas upwardly therethrough.

Another object is to provide apparatus for spraying the surface of unstable strata formations within a well bore with an aqueous type of cement or clay and which will operate andmay be carried out at any given depth within the well bore.

A further object is to provide a new and novel apparatus for spraying a cementing or coating material over the surface of the underlying formations in a well bore which is capable of being actuated at any desired level or distance below the surface and is provided with means for'setting the aqueous cementing material in motion to break up any premature set conditions thereof.

A still further object is to provide an apparatus for use in coating and sealing the various formations within a well bore, which is positive in operation, economical to manufacture, easy to operate and which will deposit a relatively uniform coating over the face of that section of the well bore being treated.

These and other objects of this invention which will hereinafter be made apparent to those skilled in this particular art are accomplished by means of this invention, one embodiment of which is described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of my improved apparatus for coating the surface of a well bore;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in elevation of the top loading section of the apparatus;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in elevation taken 0 at right angles to Fig. 2 and showing the weightbalanced feeding door of the loading mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the unloading or spraying portion of the apparatus and shows the position of the parts when the apparatus is being 10 lowered into a well bore;

Fig. 5 is a view in elevation of the unloading or spraying portion of the apparatus and having the central portion thereof broken away for con venience of illustration; and

Fig. 6 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 4 but showing the position of the parts after the valve has been tripped and during the spraying of the cementing material over the surface of the well bore.

As illustrated in the drawing, my improved apparatus comprises a top loading member A, several lengths of tubing B, an unloading or spraying device C and a tripping member D for actuating the unloading or spraying device 0. The loading member A comprises an upper cylindrical chamber l0 having a bail ll attached to the opposite sides thereof and to which the end of a suitable wire cable is adapted to be attached for lowering the apparatus into the well bore.

The top of the chamber In is closed by a door l2 and the lower end of the chamber is of reduced size and externally threaded to provide a connection l3 for securing the loading member A to the several lengths of tubing B to provide a reservoir for the cementing or coating material and to create a suflicient static head to properly discharge the material therefrom and over the well bore, as will be hereinafter described.

The unloading or spraying device C comprises 0 an upper member or nipple l5 for attaching the body l6 of the unloading member to the string of tubing B. The member I 5 has a valve chamber l1 formed therein between the bottom of the tubing B and the top of the body l6 and the wall of the 5 nipple I5 is provided with a nozzle aperture l8 leading into the valve chamber I1 and in which a nozzle I9 is mounted for spraying aqueous cementing material over the wall of the well bore. Mounted for reciprocable movement within valve chamber I1 is a double-acting valve 20 having an upper beveled face which is adapted to abut against a valve seat 2| when the unloading or spraying device C is in its closed position and a lower beveled face which is adapted to seat on a thew beveled valve seat 22 at the top of the body |3, when the device is in use and aqueous cementing material is being sprayed through the nozzle I5.

Valve 25 has a downwardly projecting cylin drical stem 23 attached at its lower end to a stem 24 of solid construction which terminates in a bifurcated or forked end 25. The prongs of the forked end 25 of the valve stem 24 have elongated openings 25 therein for receiving a pin 21 which has its ends mounted for vertical movement in slots 23 located on opposite sides of the body member l5. Also journaled on the pin 21 between the prongs of the forked end 25 of the valve stem 24 are a pair of links 29-30 forming part of a toggle joint mechanism. The opposite ends of said links are connected by pins 3I-32 to the ends of the other pair of toggle joint links. These other links are numbered 33-34 and their outer ends are connected together by a pin 35 which extends through diametrically opposite openings in the wall of the body IS. The outer ends of links 33-34 are provided with right angled projections having cylindrical ends 35-31 which extend into said slots 35-39 formed in the body I5. The cylindrical ends 35-31 are of such length that when they are in the position shown in Fig. 4, they project beyond the outer wall of the cylindrical body I5 for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

Valve 20 is forced upwardly in contact with its seat 2| by means of the toggle mechanism operating through a heavy spring 40 which surrounds the valve stem 24 and bears against the bottom of the vlave stem 23 and against the top of a collar 4| within which pin 21 may be said to be journaled. Collar 4| surrounds the bifurcated or forked end 25 of the valve stem 24 and forms an abutment for spring 40. The body |5 of the unloading or spraying device C is also provided with wash windows 42 on opposite sides thereof so that the device will be self-cleaning as well as readily cleanable.

The tripping member D comprises a cylindrical body telescopically mounted over the lower end of the body l5 of the unloading or spraying device C and which has an inwardly projecting shoulder 5| at its upper end adapted to cooperate with an outwardly projecting shoulder 52 on the body It in limiting the downward movement of member 50 relative to the member l5 and for preventing the tripping member from sliding oi! the body of the spraying or unloading device. The upward movement of the body 53 on the member i5 is limited by a plug 53 which is threaded into member and which is adapted to engage the bottom of the member l5. Member 53 is also provided with elongated wash windows 54 for cleaning the tripping device and the lower end thereof is reduced and externally threaded as at 55 for connection to a coupling for attaching body 5|! to tubing 55 of any desired length.

When my improved apparatus is to be used, suitable operating members such as socket wrenches (not shown) are placed over the cylindrical ends 35-31 to the angled portions of links 33-34 and said links are moved to the position illustrated in Fig. 4 where they are shown as having passed slightly beyond the centerline of the tool. This movement of links 33-34 moves links 25-35 to a substantially vertical position and forces the pin 21 upward in the vertical slots 23. As the pin 21 moves upwardly the collar 4| is raised, placing the spring 40 under compression. This in turn, exerts an upwardly directed force against the bottom of the valve stem 23 and moves the upper face of the valve 24 against the upper seat 2|. When the valve 25 is seated against the upper valve seat 2|, cylindrical ends 35-31 project outwardly beyond the outer surface of the body |5 (Fig. 4). The apparatus is then lowered into the well bore until the feeder door |2 of the loading member A is brought to the desired position above the derrick floor for loading the apparatus with aqueous cementing material. Door I2 is then opened and a mixture of Portland cement and water or a mixture of Portland cement, prepared dehydrated clay and water, mixed to such consistency as to permit it to flow readily, is strained and poured through the door I2 until the reservoir B and the chamber ID are filled with the cementing material after which the door i2 is closed and the apparatus is lowered into the well until the pipe 55 of the tripping member D comes in contact with the bottom of the well. It is understood that the tubing or pipe 55 is made up of one or more lengths or sections and that the number of sections depends on the height of the formation to be coated above the bottom of the well bore and that the pipe 55 is of suflicient length to position the member C at the proper level for coating the desired formation when the end of such pipe rests on the bottom of the well bore.

As the lower end of the pipe 55 attached to the body 50 of the tripping member D comes in contact with the bottom of the well floor, further downward movement of the tripping member D is arrested, but due to the slip connection between the tripping member and the unloading or spraying device, the body l5 continues to move downwardly within the sleeve 50. This downward movement causes the upper edge of the sleeve 50 to contact with cylindrical ends 35-31. Further downward movement of the body l5 breaks the toggle mechanism and releases the compression on the spring 40 and puts a downward pull on the pin 21 and valve member 20. This together with the weight of the material within the' reservoir causes the valve to move downwardly away from the valve seat 2| and seat on lower valve seat 22.

During the time that the apparatus is being lowered into the well, there is a tendency for the cement or cement and clay in the mixture to precipitate from the solution and to assume a preliminary set condition, and in order that the cementing solution will flow readily from the reservoir B when the valve 24 is moved into engagement with the lower valve seat 22, an agitator rod 50 having outwardly projecting fins 5| thereon is secured to valve 20 and projects upwardly into the reservoir B so that on the downward movement of the valve 20 the rod and fins 5| will cut through the precipitated material and exert suflicient stirring and agitating force thereto as will restore it into solution and permit the same to flow readily through the spraying nozzle l9.

When the valve 20 is moved away from valve seat 2| and the support removed from underneath the cementing material in the reservoir B, the material falls freely and the force developed by this motion, together with the static pressure in the column of fluid in the reservoir B, creates a. considerable pressure at the nozzle I! with the result that a jet of cementing material is projected outwardly from the nozzle with considerable velocity, and, since the reservoir B has a relatively large capacity this movement of the 1| cementing material continues for a considerable length of time in order to spray a considerable portion of the wall of the well with the cementing material, I raise and rotate the apparatus during the unloading or spraying operation by raising the cable from which it is suspended.

The cable supporting the spraying apparatus and which is used during the drilling of wells by the percussion method, is composed of a multiple of fine twisted wires and, as a result of the construction of the cable, it has a tendency to untwist as a load is placed thereon and a tendency to take up the twist as the load on the cable decreases or is removed. Consequently, as the load carried by the apparatus is continuously being reduced during the unloading or spraying operation and since the cable has a tendency to take up the untwisting action caused by the load, the apparatus is whirled around its vertical axis during the unloading process, and, since the apparatus is being raised during this period, the cementing material is spread relatively uniformly over the face of the well bore.

In making up the coating or sealing mixture to be introduced into the apparatus, I prefer to use a solution of Portland cement and water or a combination of Portland cement, prepared dehydrated clay and water, mixed in, such proportions as to flow readily. In wells where there is a considerable depth and where considerable time is required between the loading and unloading operations, it is sometimes desirable to mix a colloidal clay with the Portland cement to prevent the premature precipitation of the Portland cement. In such cases it may be also desirable to fill the lower end of the tubing B with a batter formed of a mixture of colloidal clay and water, which will not set or harden, before the cementing material is introduced into the well so as to prevent any premature setting of the Portland cement adjacent the valve 20 which might look the valve against downward movement.

The height of the column of cementing solution within the apparatus also has a tendency to cause the Portland cement to precipitate from the solution and set prematurely. It is apparent, however, that the set condition of the cement does not interfere with the working of the apparatus, since the opening of the valve 20, which operates downwardly, creates a pulling force in the apparatus that has a tendency to agitate and set in motion any water that may be within the set area of the cement, and, since the cement mixture will go back into solution as soon as the water therein is set in motion, the cementing material in the mixture will be sufllciently agitated and stirred on passing the fins on the agitating rod to produce such fluidity therein as will permit the solution to readily pass through the nozzle l9.

From the foregoing description of my invention, it is apparent that I have provided an apparatus for spraying a cement or sealing coating over the wall of a well bore which is positive in operation, will spread a uniform coating over the wall of the well, and with which any formation at any depth in the well may be easily and readily treated to seal the same.

It is to be understood that while I have described one embodiment of my invention, the invention may be exemplified in other forms of apparatus and that certain changes, modifications, additions and subtractions may be made in the apparatus disclosed without departing from the spirit of my invention or the scope of the appended cla Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In well cementing apparatus, a loading chamber, a reservoir below said chamber and communicating therewith, an unloader for said reservoir having a valve chamber therein provided with a discharge nozzle, a valve controlling said nozzle, means for reciprocating said valve to place said nozzle in communication with said reservoir and means connected to said valve and movable therewith for agitating material within said reservoir upon movement of said valve.

2. A device for coating well bores comprising a body having a reservoir therein for coating mixture, a. member secured to said body and having a valve chamber therein, a valve operating in said chamber, a rod on said valve projecting into said reservoir, agitating fins on said rod, a stem for said valve, links each connected at one end to said valve stem, pivoted bell cranks each having one end connected to the other end of one of said links, and means for turning said bell cranks to actuate said valve.

3. A well cementing apparatus comprising a member having a downwardly facing valve seat and an upwardly facing valve seat therein, a valve operating between said valve seats, a stem for said valve, a yoke loosely connected to said stem, and a pivoted L-shaped lever having one end connected to said yoke, said lever being adapted to open and close said valve on oscillatory movement thereof.

4. A well cementing apparatus comprising a member having a downwardly facing valve seat and an upwardly facing valve seat, a doublefaced valve movable between said seats, a stem connected to said valve, a yoke secured to said stem, a pivotally mounted L-shaped lever, a link connecting one leg of said lever with said yoke, and means for turning said pivoted lever about its pivot to operate said valve.

5. In well cementing apparatus, a connected string of pipe forming a reservoir, a loading chamber communicating with the top of said reservoir, an unloader for said reservoir which is located below the same and includes a valve chamber having spaced opposed valve seats, a valve mounted for reciprocation between said seats, a spray nozzle communicating with said valve chamber between said seats, a device for moving said valve from one to the other of said seats, means for manually operating said valve moving device to close communication between said reservoir and said valve chamber and means below said unloader for operating said valve moving device to open communication between said reservoir and said nozzle by way of said valve chamber.

6. In well cementing apparatus, a reservoir for cementing material, a loading chamber above and in communication with said reservoir, an unloading device below said reservoir and having a valve chamber therein provided with spaced oppositely facing valve seats, a valve in said valve chamber for controlling communication between the same and said reservoir, a discharge nozzle communicating with said valve chamber between said spaced seats, toggle mechanism for moving said valve to close communication between said reservoir and said valve chamber and means located below said unloading device for operating said toggle mechanism to move said valve into position to open communication between said reservoir and said nozzle,

7. In well cementing apparatus, a reservoir for cementing material, a loading chamber above and in communication with said reservoir, an unloading device below said reservoir and having a valve chamber therein provided with vertically spaced oppositely facing valve seats, a valve in said valve chamber movable between said seats for controlling communication between the valve chamber and said reservoir, a discharge nozzle communicating with said chamber between said spaced seats, toggle mechanism which is manually operated for moving said valve to. close communication between said reservoir and said valve chamber, cushioning means between said toggle mechanism and said valve and means located below said unloading device and adapted to contact with the well bottom for operating said toggle mechanism to move said valve into position to open communication between said reservoir and said nozzle.

8. In well cementing apparatus, a reservoir for cementing material, a loading chamber above and in communication with said reservoir, an unloading device below said reservoir and having a valve chamber therein provided with spaced oppositely facing valve seats, a vertically reciprocable valve in said valve chamber for controlling communication between the same and said res- 'ervoir, a discharge nozzle communicating with said valve chamber between said spaced seats. toggle mechanism which is manually operable for raising said valve to close communication between said reservoir and said valve chamber, and means located below said unloading device for operating said toggle mechanism to lower said valve into position to open communication between said reservoir and said .nozzle.

9. In well cementing apparatus; "a reservoir for cementing material, a loading chamber above and in communication with said reservoir, an unloading mechanism below said reservoir and having a valve chamber therein provided with vertically spaced oppositely facing valve seats, a vertically reciprocable valve in said valve chamber for controlling communication between the same and said reservoir, a discharge nozzle communicating with said valve chamber between 'said spaced seats manually operated toggle mechanism for raising said valve to close communication between said reservoir and said valve chamber cushioning means between said toggle mechanism and said valve and means having sliding connection with said unloading device and adapted to extend to the bottom of the well for operating said toggle mechanism to lower said valve into position to open communication between said reservoir and said nozzle.

FERDINAND J. SPANG.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,196,558. April 9, 191p.

FERDINAND J. SPANG.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1, second column, line 51, before "door" insert the word --weighted-; line Lil, before "nipple" insert interna1ly threaded-q page 2, first column, line 5h, for "vlave" read va1ve--; page 5, first column; line 2, for "time in" read -time. In; and that the said Letters Patent shouldbe read with this correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this ll th day of May, A. D. 19110 Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

